MSU student gains global perspective studying abroad

Missouri State University student Sumer Fletcher at the Mediterranean Sea in Nice, France.

Sumer Fletcher said "au revoir" to everything she knew in America. Seeking adventure, she made a giant leap of uncertainty - 4,831 miles away - to Chambery, France.

"I knew there was more out there, and I wanted to see it," said Fletcher.

Fletcher, a senior global studies major at MSU, spent the final four months of 2011 studying abroad at Savoie University, learning more than she ever thought possible.

"I felt stronger, braver and more confident, because studying abroad presented me with obstacles I had never faced before and never would have faced otherwise," she said. "I had to be resourceful and really be at my best to get through some of them."

Despite the obstacles Fletcher faced abroad, she said she returned to America with a wealth of knowledge and a new outlook.

"I have a new perspective on the world and can see things from different points of view now," she said. "I've seen several different ways of life, and I think that is a very practical thing to have."

Fletcher said her time abroad has its professional advantages as well, noting both the improvement of her communication skills and the impact on her resume. She said she believes it is important for everyone to travel to experience another culture firsthand.

"It is something that you can read about and watch YouTube videos about, but you don't really know what it's like until you've experienced it firsthand and been there," said Fletcher.